Railway-crossing signal



w. B. TORANDO RAILWAY cnossme SIGNAL Filed Auet. 17. 1922 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

irsn are LEZEMW WALTER B. TORANDO, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RAILWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed August 1'7, 1922. Serial No. 582,364.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVAirnsu B. TORANDO, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a rail-way crossing signal of the warning type adapted to notify pedestrians and others of the approach of a train prior to the train reaching a crossing, such signals tending to reduce accidents caused by pedestrians and others crossing tracks when the train is approaching.

My invention aims to provide a rail-way crossing with a tower, bridge or overhead structure from which audible and visible signals may be operated to warn pedestrians of the approach of one or more trains, the audible signal being preferably in the form of a gong or bell and the visible signal in the form of wigwagging or oscillatory members or arms, which together with the tower, bridge or overhead structure may be illuminated at night and especially during the approach and passing of a train.

My invention further aims to provide rail-way crossing signals which are electrically operated and automatically controlled by a train or trains. The rolling stock is adapted to complete circuits setting signals in operation before a train reaches a crossing and in this manner pedestrians or others will be warned in sufiicient time to avoid an accident.

My invention further aims to accomplish the above results by an exceedingly simple construction that will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal tower or bridge provided with the signals;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the signal tower or bridge, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring of my system of signalling.

In the drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 2 denote rails of parallel tracks at a crossing 3 and these rails constitute track sections of considerable length, at each side of the crossing 3, insulated, as at 4, from adjoining track sections and one of said tracks may be for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound traffic.

At one end of the crossing 3 is a tower, bridge or overhead structure comprising posts or poles 5 connected by a cross member 6 suitably braced relative to the post 5, as at 7.

Mounted on the cross member 6 is an electric motor 8 and a train of reduction gears 9 which are adapted to be driven from the armature shaft 10 of the electric motor. The train of gears 9 includes a. driven shaft 11 and mounted on the ends of said shaft are cranks 12.

Pivotally connected to opposite edges of the cross member 6, as at 13, are oscillatory members or arms 14 having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected, as at 16, to links 17 which in turn are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the cranks 12 so that said cranks may oscillate the members or arms 14. The lower ends of the members or arms terminate in signal members 18 that may have configurations representing hands, as shown in Fig. 1 and incandescent lamps 19 can be mounted in the signal member.

Incandescent lamps 20 are also mounted on the posts 5 and the cross member 6, and an audible signal, as an electric bell 21, is also mounted on the cross member.

In order that the electric motor and visible and audible signals may be placed in operation a suitable source of electrical energy, as battery cells 22 and 23 may be employed and these battery cells, together with an electro magnet 24 and switches 25 and 26 may be located on the cross member 6, at

the base of one of the posts 5, or at any if suitable location Where electrical connections can be safely and conveniently established, in connection with the rails 1 and 2 of each track. The switch 26 is employed to render the motor 8 and mechanism driven thereby temporarily inoperative during repair.

Considering the electrical connections for one of the tracks, the rail 1 is connected by wires 27 and 28 to the battery cells 22 and said battery cells by wire 29 to the electromagnet 24, which in turn is connected by a wire 30 to the rail 2. Rolling stock connecting the rails 1 and 2 closes the electro;

magnet circuit and with the switch 25 in position to be actuated by the energized electro-magnet 24:, said switch completes a motor circuit which is as follows From battery cells 23 by wire 31 to the electric bell 21 and then by wire 32 to.the switch 26 or the incandescent lamps 19 and 20. From the switch 26 by wire 33 to the placed in operation and the incandescent lamps illuminated at night, and all of this takes place while the train is on the insulated section of track. The other track has a normally open circuit with the clectro-magnet circuit so that a train on said track may place the signals in operation, such circuitbeing maintainedby wires 37 and 38.

It is obvious that the motor 8 and the train of gears 9 may be enclosed by a suitable housing on the cross member 6; that a light duty motor may be used; that the overhead structure may be of suflicient height to permit of; the signals being observed over the top of a train; that suitable insulation and connections will be used and where the incandescent lamps are placed and that the signal apparatus is applicable for various a preferred embodiment of my invention, it

is to be understood that the structural ele ments are susceptibleto such changes, in size, shape and manner of assembling as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is V In a railway crossing signal, the combina tion of insulated track sections at a crossing, an overhead structure adjacent said track sections, oscillatory armspivotally mounted on opposite sides of said overhead structure, an electric motor adjacent one of said arms, a train of gears driven by said motor, a shaft driven by said'train of gears and having cranks at the sides or" said overhead structure, links connecting the cranks of said shaft to the upper ends of said arms and adapted to oscillate said arms, an electrical circuit for said motor, visible and audible signals on the overhead structure and in said motor circuit, a track circuit including a sultable source of electrical energy, and an electro magnet switch controlled by the track circuit and adapted to complete the motor circuit when rolling stock is on said insulated track sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

ALTER B. TORAN DO.

itnesses V ANNA M. Donn, KARL l-I. BUTLER. 

